Shira Route - Kilimanjaro

7 Days Shira Route

Tanzania
7
Days

7 Days Shira Route

The Shira Plateau is one of Kilimanjaro’s most stunning landscapes, offering sweeping views of Mt. Meru and the Great Rift Valley. The Shira Route is best suited for trekkers who are already acclimatized to elevations around 4,000 meters. Depending on weather conditions, you’ll either drive or hike for 1–2 hours to reach Shira Hut (4,000m). Along the way, you may encounter wildlife as the scenery shifts from dense forest to open grasslands, heath, and moorland. Since the route involves a rapid ascent by vehicle to high altitude, additional acclimatization is essential before pushing for Uhuru Peak via the Western Breach or Barafu Hut.

Best time to visit: July - August

Duration

7
Days

Places to Visit

Mount KilimanjaroMt. Kilimanjaro

Day by Day Itinerary

You will be picked up by the staff of Finest East Africa Safari from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and driven to your accommodation in Moshi. Participants will be given a short briefing for the climb the next day. Kits and the necessary equipment will be checked as well.

Accommodation: Sg Resort
Meals: Dinner

Hiking time: 1 hour
Distance: 3 km
Habitat: Rain Forest

After breakfast, we start a long drive to Lemosho Gate where you will complete the necessary registration. Afterward, we continue our travel up the Shira Plateau to the trailhead. You will have a short hike through the rainforest to Shira Two Camp where your tent will be pitched.

Accommodation: Shira Two Camp
Meals: Dinner

Altitude range: 3,850 meters (12,600 ft) – 4,600 meters (15,100 ft) – 3,950 meters (12,950 ft)

Hiking time: 7 hours approx
Distance: 14 – 15 km’s (9 miles)
Habitat: Semi desert and rocky terrain

From Shira Camp, the route turns east towards Kibo and you will find yourself hiking through semi-desert up to the fairly rocky conditions that surround Lava Tower at 4,600 meters (15,100 ft). After lunch, we descend approximately 650 meters to Barranco Camp. Along the way, you will have good views overlooking Western Breach and Breach Wall. Tonight’s camp is located in a valley just below the Breach and gives an impressive view of Great Barranco Wall.

Accommodation: Barranco Camp
Meals: Dinner

Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

This is a short day meant for acclimatization. We take on a route that heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. We turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, we would have reached Barafu Hut.

The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.

Accommodation: Karanga Valley Campsite
Meals: Dinner

Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Accommodation: Barafu Camp
Meals: Lorem ipsum dolor

Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Habitat: Arctic

At 2am, we start our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. We head in a northwest and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and have a well-earned sleep.

Accommodation: Mweka Hut
Meals: Dinner

Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where our vehicle awaits to drive us back to the Hotel in Arusha.

Accommodation: Sg Resort
Meals: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner

Small Form

Included

Park fees
Drinking water in our safari jeeps
All accommodations as stated in the itinerary
All Meals
Camping Equipment Porterage
Pickup and transfer airport
Reservation costs

Excluded

International flights and visas
Travel insurance
Alcoholic drinks
Rescue Fee
Climbing Gear
Sleeping Bag

Why Finest East Africa Safari?

Highest service
Quickest response time
Skilled travel consultants
World-class safari guides
Competitive rates

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